New Regulator Standards
With the introduction of BS EN 13785 the suite
of three EN standards to replace BS3016 has been completed. As
a result BS3016 will now be withdrawn.
BS3016 was introduced in 1958 and the latest revision has been
with us since 1989. It is a well-respected standard that has
been used, not only in the UK, but also in many other countries
within and outside Europe.
BS3016 has been replaced by the following
standards:
- BS12864:2001 – Low-pressure,
non adjustable regulators having a maximum outlet pressure
of less than
or equal to 200
mbar, with a capacity of less than or equal to 4kg/h, and
their associated safety devices for butane, propane or their
mixtures.
- BS13785:2005 – Regulators with
a capacity of up to and including 100 kg/h, having a maximum
nominal outlet pressure
of up to and including 4 bar, other than those covered by
EN
12864 and their associated safety devices for butane, propane
or their mixtures.
- BS13786:2004 – Automatic changeover
valves having a maximum outlet pressure of up to and including
4 bar with a capacity
of up to and including 100 kg/h, and their associated safety
devices for butane, propane or their mixtures.
"These new standards are far more detailed
in their requirements for testing, and attempt to harmonise the
requirements for lpg
regulators throughout Europe," said Martin Baker of Calor,
who chairs the BSI committee responsible for the standards and
represents the UK on the CEN working group on behalf of the LPGA. “In
addition, they cover new materials and technologies, in particular
the use of plastics, which have evolved in the last 15 years,
providing methods for comparable testing. "Also for the first
time, the dimensions for the different connections used throughout
Europe are included in an attempt to ensure safe
practice and remove any variable from one manufacturer to another."
EN12864
for cylinder regulators has been with us since 2001 and will
already be found marked on regulators available in stores.
EN12864 introduced the “caravan" regulator to complement
EN1949, which was made a mandatory fitment to caravans and motorhomes
for the 2004 model year.
EN13786 for changeover valves was introduced
in 2004. Products conforming to this standard have yet to be
placed on the market.
The last standard, EN13785, has just been
introduced and, as its scope includes regulators up to 100kg/h,
it far exceeds the
scope of BS3016 (20 kg/h) and gives a standard that covers the
vast majority of lpg installations in the UK.
"To the users and gas companies these
three standards are a positive step forward. However, as always
when compiling a pan European
standard, there has had to be some changes and compromises," said
Martin.
In particular, the settings for the under
pressure shut off (UPSO) limited relief and over pressure shut
off have been
changed.
These changes enable the regulators to maintain compliance
with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations and have
been
agreed by the manufacturers currently supplying the UK market.
They will only affect 2nd stage regulators and changeover valves
manufactured to EN13785 and EN13786 and are summarised in the
table below.
Return to June/July
2005 News
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